In the New Testament, the account of Jesus walking on the sea is a profound narrative that highlights the theme of cowardice juxtaposed with faith. This event is recorded in the Gospels, with the account in the Gospel of Matthew providing a detailed depiction of the disciples' reaction to this miraculous event.

Biblical Account

The narrative unfolds after the feeding of the five thousand, as Jesus instructs His disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while He dismisses the crowd and retreats to a mountainside to pray. As the night progresses, the disciples find themselves battling strong winds and waves. In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus approaches them, walking on the sea.

Matthew 14:25-26 states, "During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost!' they said, and they cried out in fear."

Analysis of Cowardice

The disciples' initial reaction to Jesus walking on the water is one of terror and fear. Their cry of "It’s a ghost!" reveals a moment of cowardice, as they fail to recognize their Master and are overwhelmed by their immediate circumstances. This reaction is emblematic of human frailty and the tendency to succumb to fear when faced with the unknown or seemingly impossible.

The disciples' fear can be understood as a lack of faith, a common theme throughout the Gospels. Despite having witnessed numerous miracles performed by Jesus, their hearts are still prone to doubt and fear. This moment of cowardice is not merely a reaction to the supernatural sight of Jesus walking on water but also a reflection of their spiritual immaturity and inability to fully trust in His divine power and protection.

Peter's Response

The narrative takes a significant turn with Peter's response. In Matthew 14:28-29 , Peter says, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." Jesus responds, "Come." Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk on the water toward Jesus. However, when Peter sees the wind, he becomes afraid and begins to sink, crying out, "Lord, save me!" (Matthew 14:30).

Peter's initial courage to step out in faith is quickly overshadowed by fear, illustrating the fragile nature of human faith when confronted with adversity. Jesus' immediate response to Peter's cry for help is telling. Matthew 14:31 records, "Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. 'You of little faith,' He said, 'why did you doubt?'"

Spiritual Implications

The episode of Jesus walking on the sea serves as a powerful lesson on the dangers of cowardice and the importance of faith. The disciples' fear and Peter's momentary doubt highlight the human struggle to maintain faith in the face of fear and uncertainty. Jesus' gentle rebuke, "You of little faith," serves as a reminder of the need for steadfast trust in Him, even when circumstances seem dire.

This narrative encourages believers to confront their fears with faith, trusting in the presence and power of Christ. It underscores the importance of recognizing Jesus in the midst of life's storms and the assurance that He is always ready to extend His hand to those who call upon Him in faith.Matthew 14:25
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
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Mark 6:50
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and said to them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
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John 6:19
So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the ship: and they were afraid.
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At the Temple Gate
... He now had an opportunity of redeeming his cowardice. ... may be done by the name of
Thy Holy Child Jesus.". ... in the work of the ministry; for they saw that they ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 6 at the temple.htm

The Raising of the Dead.
... to see death as they saw it! ... to this me, protecting all its rights, jealously as
his own from which they spring, that he ... Cowardice at least is contemptible.". ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/viii the raising of the.htm

The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ...
... Then both he and his former companions died, when they saw him in ... Perhaps, it was
not only, nor chiefly, from moral cowardice, though they must have ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xvii the call of.htm

Ebenezer!
... make them into another crown for the head of Jesus? ... frost; our courage little better
than cowardice; our love ... It was there that they saw God's hand and were ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 9 1863/ebenezer.htm

Choked Channels.
... And I saw enough to let me know that he was right in the ... are like Nicodemus"there
is no power because of timidity, cowardice, fear of what they will think ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on power/choked channels.htm

Simon the Cyrenian
... a failure of His will, or like the abject cowardice of some ... What of that, If they
are written in letters of light ... the Cross when it was fixed, and saw all that ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/simon the cyrenian.htm

An Exhortation to virtue -- and Particularly Upon the Passage...
... at least, how the Scripture describes this cowardice of the ... He saw, for instance,
the king coming towards him ... Hear the same prophet, saying, "They that trust in ...
/.../chrysostom/on the priesthood/homily viii an exhortation to.htm

Book ii.
... be shunned as though there were any cowardice in it ... but did not restrain him, his
eyes were covered yet they saw. So, then, he saw who was rising again, who was ...
//christianbookshelf.org/ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/book ii.htm

The Maniac
... many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature ... They may well call their
law the "chain" of causation ... to cruelty as it is certain to lead to cowardice. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/orthodoxy/ii the maniac.htm

part i
... wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the ... the Almighty, creating spirit
of our Lord Jesus Christ is ... those things which be not as though they were"; [41 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm

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